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Passion & Struggle

THE GENESIS SAGA – BOOK ONE

Marco Rossini is a historian with no political aspirations, and no desire for power.

However, he possesses unique knowledge that is about to change his life: he knows the human history of the planet Earth.

The year is 2796 CE, and on the planet Genesis, human civilization looks very similar to the world it left behind.

One difference dominates: a Church, created by the United Nations to compel peace, has ruled for seven centuries. Now, in the wake of a brutal war that aligned humanity with the new rulers of Earth, the old ways have been shattered, and Genesis needs a new, egalitarian government.

Marco is the right man to help lead the change, but as the professor soon discovers, the battle between Church and state is far from over, and both sides are willing to spill blood.

Struggling to remake his world, to find love, and to survive in troubled political waters, can Marco Rossini change history?

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Excerpt From Passion & Struggle

Two Genesis Free Press staffers stood waiting in the corridor outside the office of Will Rust, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper. Marie Brooklynn was one of GFP’s ace reporters, while Annie Pinto, her close friend, was her photographer and research assistant. They liked to describe themselves to others as ‘partners in crime’. While patently untrue in the literal sense, they did get into trouble from time to time. On most occasions, this occurred when they indulged in their favorite pastime of unorthodox thinking, followed by acting on the resulting impulses.

Brooklynn, at five feet seven inches, was an instinctive investigator and the word wizard of the two of them. If left unchecked, her long brown hair arranged itself in a glorious mass of curls around her head. Pinto was a petite blonde, standing just five feet one inch, with hair as straight as her partner’s was curly. As vanity dictated, Marie spent hours straightening her hair, while Annie worked just as hard curling hers. Pinto worked her professional magic with well-honed research skills, an extraordinary innovative eye and an assortment of cameras. Her pictures, combined with Brooklynn’s word craft, always made an impressive impact on the paper’s readership and editorial staff.

Just five years ago, Will Rust had assigned them as partners when they joined the GFP staff, at the age of twenty-five. Their first big story was the Battle of Genesis, in January of 2762. The Earther Second Fleet had teamed up with the Genesis Fleet to save a Larosian scouting party from sure annihilation at the hands of the Kroggs. Although the Genesis Navy had previously considered the Larosians their enemies, they now regarded them as potential allies in their struggle to free Genesis from the Krogg overlords.

Brooklynn and Pinto were a news team of just two. While other reporters had research assistants, this duo preferred to do their own digging – and they did it together like a well-oiled machine. Their success was the main reason they were waiting outside Will Rust’s office.

Pinto checked the time once more, “Any idea why we’re hanging around out here, Marie?”

“I’d guess it has something to do with the return of the Navy. News reports say they’re one day out of port.”

Annie became more animated, “Do you think we’ll get a chance to meet anyone important?”

Brooklynn shot a withering look at her friend, “What, I’m not important enough for you?”

“Ha!” Pinto shot back just as Rust’s door opened and his voice carried out into the hall.

“Brooklynn, Pinto… quit whatever you’re doing out there and come in here…”

“Sorry sir,” they chimed as they hustled through the door.

Rust eyed them as he made his way to his own chair and waved them to chairs opposite his desk. He waited for them to sit before he took a seat in his own chair. The two women noticed the gesture of respect as they regarded him expectantly.

He knew he didn’t have a zanier pair working for him, but he could live with that as long as they continued their superlative work. The truth was, he envied them the excitement of being out in the field with the action. But he was happy in his role as the “general” of the best newspaper on the planet. And the Genesis Free Press was the best, largely, because of the two staffers sitting before him.

“You’re aware that the Navy is just twenty hours from docking in Genesis space?” Satisfied with their nods of acknowledgement, he continued. “Then you might also be aware that Genesis Free Press has two VIP seats for the Gala scheduled two days from now to welcome our conquering heroes.”

Brooklynn and Pinto nodded once more, and then glanced at each other before returning their attention to their boss.

“I have two assignments for you.” Rust leaned back in his chair and studied the pair for a few seconds. They held his gaze and didn’t move. He rose once more from his chair and checked the traffic below from the window behind his desk. It was an amazing view from the twelfth story of the GFP building in the center of Genesis City. Folding his arms on his chest, he turned to face them.

“Those Gala tickets are yours because they come with a big assignment attached. I want you to meet four powerful officers who will be there. As the four top commanders of our Navy and Marine forces during the war, they are now war heroes. I want them to know that this paper can be trusted to give them the fairest coverage possible. In case you haven’t guessed, the four officers are ArcGeneral Sarah Manchester and her brother, ArcLieutenant-General Graham Manchester, Commandant Gillian Hodge of the Marine Corps, and ArcLieutenant-General Pat Conroy. The night of the Gala, your assignment is to get close enough to Graham Manchester and Gillian Hodge to get them to agree to an interview – that night if possible.”

“Phew, that’s a tall order sir,” commented Brooklynn, as Pinto nodded in agreement.

Rust smiled, “Precisely.”

“You mentioned that there were two assignments, sir,” piped up Pinto.

Nodding, Rust reclaimed his chair and folded his hands together on the desktop.

“Professor Marco Rossini – have either of you heard of him?” Marie wore a vacant look, but Annie brightened at the name.

“Marco is the History Chair at UGC who pioneered the study of human political science on Earth from records brought back from the Quest.”

“I didn’t know you had knowledge of the world of academia, Pinto.” Rust nodded his approval at her.

Pinto beamed, “Well, my Gian and Marco have been good friends since their undergrad studies at UGC, so we have often socialized with him. Marco is a wonderful guy!”

Rust directed his gaze to Brooklynn and continued. “His publications on old Earth political science have won him planet-wide acclaim here on Genesis. A year ago, High Chancellor Bingham asked him to utilize that expertise in the writing of a new constitution for Genesis. It features a democratic government ruling in tandem with the Chancellery. At the Gala, the High Chancellor will announce his plans to put that government into place. For now they are to be kept quiet.”

“So you want us to interview Rossini at the Gala too?”

“Yes, and no, Brooklynn. I want you to interview him at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. The High Chancellor has made the arrangements with Professor Rossini. He has an office on campus – check the university directory.”

Brooklynn’s head snapped up, “Wow, that quick… and everything prearranged by the High Chancellor himself. I guess we’d better get moving.” Both women rose from their chairs.

“Hang on you two, there’s more.” He waited until they resumed their seats. “I want you to do such a wonderful job with these interviews that they’ll pave the way to an exclusive with Sarah Manchester and Pat Conroy. My sources tell me that they became engaged on the way home from Krogg ‘A’.”

Pinto and Brooklynn exchanged meaningful glances. Rust waited until he had their attention again.

“Be aware that Pat Conroy and Marco Rossini were childhood friends in Darymanis City and have remained close. So it is imperative that you use Pinto’s influence to get on Rossini’s good side as additional leverage with Conroy. Questions?”

“Is the professor single, sir?” Brooklynn queried.

The editor rolled his eyes as Pinto nodded an affirmative in her partner’s direction.